Microneedle Tip Separation via Soluble Guide Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microneedle technologies face challenges in accurately delivering a predetermined amount of liquid medicine due to issues like inaccurate dose delivery, drug stability, and delayed penetration, particularly with solid cream-type and water-melted microneedles.
Innovation Solution
A microneedle design featuring a tip portion capable of penetrating the skin with a liquid medicine, supported by a base portion and a guide portion made of a non-soluble material, which is coupled with the tip portion using a weaker force than the skin's holding force, allowing for rapid separation and efficient delivery of a predetermined amount of liquid medicine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solid cream-type microneedle or water-melted microneedle is used to deliver effective ingredient, then the microneedle can penetrate the skin, but the dose delivery is inaccurate and drug stability is reduced due to long production time
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle is divided into two distinct parts: a tip portion made of water-soluble polymer containing liquid medicine, and a base portion made of non-soluble polymer providing structural support. This segmentation allows the tip portion to be precisely formed with accurate dose while the base portion can be separately manufactured and assembled, reducing overall production time and improving dose delivery accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from solid cream-type or water-melted polymers to a liquid medicine formulation in the tip portion. This parameter change enables precise control of the liquid medicine amount (improving dose accuracy) while the water-soluble polymer material allows for faster manufacturing and better drug stability without requiring long production times.
2Reliability
If a solid cream-type microneedle or water-melted microneedle is used, then the microneedle can be manufactured, but drug loss occurs in a drying process and penetration time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter from solid or semi-solid cream-type to liquid medicine in the tip portion. This eliminates the drying process that causes drug loss, improves drug stability by preventing evaporation and degradation, and enables faster penetration into the skin due to the liquid state and water-soluble polymer material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the liquid medicine from the bulk polymer matrix and concentrates it in the tip portion only. This extraction eliminates unnecessary drying processes for the entire microneedle structure, preventing drug loss while maintaining drug stability. The liquid medicine is delivered directly in its stable liquid state upon penetration.
3Strength
If the tip portion is strongly coupled with the base portion, then the microneedle structure is stable, but the tip portion cannot be instantly separated after penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material solubility parameter between the tip portion (water-soluble polymer) and base portion (non-soluble polymer). This parameter change enables the tip portion to be easily separated from the base portion through dissolution in body fluids after penetration, while still maintaining strong structural coupling during the penetration process. The separation occurs automatically based on the solubility difference without requiring mechanical intervention.
4Productivity
If conventional microneedle manufacturing methods are used, then the microneedle can be produced, but manufacturing time is long and liquid medicine is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle is segmented into tip portion and base portion that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This allows the tip portion to be precisely formed with the required liquid medicine amount using fast molding techniques, while the base portion is manufactured independently. This segmentation eliminates the need for lengthy manufacturing processes and prevents liquid medicine loss by containing it within the sealed tip portion structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter to water-soluble polymer for the tip portion, enabling rapid manufacturing through molding techniques that preserve the liquid medicine. This parameter change allows for faster production cycles compared to traditional solid polymer methods, improving manufacturing speed while the sealed tip portion structure prevents liquid medicine loss during assembly and storage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The microneedle effectively delivers a precise amount of liquid medicine quickly, reducing manufacturing time, minimizing medicine loss, and enhancing drug stability, while allowing for instant separation and increased penetration force without the need for mechanical devices.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one guide portion is coupled with the at least one tip portion with a coupling force smaller than a force with which the skin holds the at least one tip portion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a microneedle including at least one tip portion that is capable of penetrating the skin and includes a liquid medicine melted in the skin; a base portion supporting the at least one tip portion; and at least one guide portion that is provided between the at least one tip portion and the base portion, is made of a non-soluble material, and is protruded in a direction in which the at least one tip portion penetrates the skin to couple with the at least one tip portion. In accordance with such a configuration, the at least one tip portion may be instantly separated in a short time, whereby superior liquid medicine supplyability is exhibited.